Padres add webcasts, but no gains on TV impasse

The Padres Wednesday announced a webcast expansion of spring training broadcasts and DirectTV said it would telecast the nine remaining spring training games scheduled by Fox Sports San Diego while picking up the total FSSD package on April 1.

But there are no developments in the year-long impasse between Time Warner Cable and FSSD about getting Padres telecasts to the 22 percent of the county still blacked out.

“There are no current talks,” said Chris Bellitti, the vice president of communications for Fox Sports. “Time Warner’s position has not changed. They have not expressed an interest in carrying Padres games.

“The market has been set and four of the five possible carriers have joined us. I think you have to contrast what Time Warner is doing in Los Angeles with the Dodgers and Lakers with how they are treating Padres fans in San Diego.”

Starting with Thursday’s game against the Kansas City Royals in Peoria, the Padres are going to offer an additional 12 spring training exhibitions via audio webcasts. The Padres contract this season reduced the number of spring training games on radio (either 1090-AM or 1700-AM) to a minimum of 15.

The webcasts will raise the number of games available through television, radio or webcasts to 32.

“We heard from our fans that they wanted all of the games broadcast, so we found a solution to close the gap for them,” said Padres CEO Tom Garfinkel.

The webcasts will be on padres.com with play-by-play provided by either Bob Scanlan or Andy Masur. In order to gain access to the free live audio stream, fans will be required to log-in or create a free account on padres.com.

Split squads swept

The Padres played their first split squad games of spring training and lost both.

At Peoria, the Padres lost 6-3 to the Rockies.

Right-hander Sean O’Sullivan started his second game of spring training and allowed one run on two hits and two walks over three innings. The run and one of the two hits was the result of a potential double play grounder that hit the second base umpire and ricocheted into center. He threw 41 pitches with 22 going for strikes.

Luke Gregerson looked sharp with two strikeouts in a perfect inning and Dale Thayer retired all three hitters he faced.

Shortstop Everth Cabrera was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Nick Hundley hit the ball hard three times and was 2-for-3 with a double off the top of the wall in left and a RBI.

Four of the Padres top young prospects – outfielders Rico Noel and Travis Jankowski, second baseman Cory Spangenberg and shortstop Jace Peterson – came over from the minor league camp and made their first appearances as a Padre this spring.

At Phoenix, the Padres lost 11-6 to Oakland.

Left-handed starting pitcher candidate Eric Stults made his first appearance of the spring and allowed three runs on four hits in one inning. Bullpen candidate Fautino De Los Santos gave up three more runs on another four hits in the second. Adys Portillo allowed one run over the next three innings.